Monday, July 07, 2008

Video: Kohanim Get Fitted

Sunday, July 06, 2008

Two Dreams With the Chofetz Chaim

I have just become aware of two very interesting dreams. I have not attempted to confirm either one. But I intend to ask friends from YCC what they make of these.

The first dream was making the rounds in email and was posted in a few places including on Mystical Paths:

The famed Rabbi Shachne Zohn, shlita, had an amazing dream about three weeks ago. Rav Shachne Zohn has been the Rosh Kollel of Kollel Kodshim v'Taharos in Yerushalayim for nearly 40 years. Before that, he served as a Rav at Yeshivah Torah Vodaas in Brooklyn. In his youth, he studied at Yeshivos Mir and Kamenitz in Europe. He also studied briefly with the Chafetz Chaim, who had a great impact on him.

About three weeks ago, the Chafetz Chaim appeared to Rav Zohn in a dream. The Chafetz Chaim said to him, "Geula krova lavo. L'farsem, ulehitkonen." (Translation: The "redemption is close. Publicize and prepare yourself.") [The author of this writes...] I have confirmed this story with Rabbi Zohn's daughter in Jerusalem, and his son, Rabbi Elchonon Zohn, Director of Vaad Harabanim of Queens, Chevra Kadisha.

The second story was related to me in the name of a friend of mine from Chofetz Chaim. So it seems to be making the rounds there. I will confirm this and add and update if there is anything new to report. Here's the quote:

Rav Sheinberg dreamed the Chofetz Chaim came to him to tell him that the Rosh Yeshiva of Choftetz Chaim was with him now in Gan Eden. When he woke up, Rav Sheinberg apparently asked why no one had told him Rav Henoch was niftar.

UPDATE: My sources confirm the story with Rav Zohn as true but the story with Rav Sheinberg as at least partly false and partly unconfirmed.

Of course Rav Sheinberg was told of Rav Henach's petira. So that he didn't know about that is false.

The version going around Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim is that the quote from the Chofetz Chaim was actually "Henach is here, Henach is here."

In any event it has not been confirmed by any of my sources that Rav Sheinberg actually had this dream. Still, the rumor started somewhere.

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Shmittah Calendar: Month of Tamuz 5768

The month of Tamuz begins Thursday night! (Today is also Rosh Chodesh.)

The following list is not fully comprehensive at all but includes some common everyday produce most people use. It is largely based on Rabbi Marcus's "Shmittah 5768: A Pratical Guide" (which we recommend you order for yourself here) and other sources. For more information on what these dates mean see here.